Sc. and north. dial. Also 6 blait, 7 bleat(e, bleit. [Found in Sc. late in 15th c. It answers phonetically to OE. blát livid, pale, ghastly; but the connection of meaning, though possible, is not attested by the evidence. The general sense since 16th c. is ‘blunt,’ ‘not sharp or ready’ in feeling, courage, discernment, manner, action, etc. (Connection with OE. bléat miserable, wretched, is not justified: still less with bléað soft, weak, timid. These words gave blete, blethe, in ME.)]
† 1. Pale, ghastly. (In OE. In the second quotation the sense is quite uncertain: cf. sense 3.)
c. 1000. in Cod. Vercell., I. (1843), 63. Hungres on wenum blates beodgæstes.
c. 1450. Henryson, Mor. Fabl., 34. The fauour of thy face, For thy defence is foule and disfigurate, Brought to the light, blased, blunt, and blate.
† 2. Void of feeling, physically insensible, feelingless. (Perhaps, like a dead body). Obs.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, I. viii. 129. The Phenitianis nane sa blait breistis hes.
a. 1548. Thrie Priests Peblis, in Pinkerton (1792), I. 29 (Jam.). In sa far as the saull is forthy Far worthier than the blait body.
† 3. Void of spirits, abashed, having the courage blunted or daunted, spiritless, timid. Obs.
1535. Stewart, Cron. Scot., II. 632. Als blait and basit as ane scheip. Ibid., 639. So blunt, so blait, berand himself so law.
a. 1560. Rolland, Crt. Venus, Prol. 55. Soft, blait, and blunt, of curagon.
4. Not ‘sharp’ in discernment, stupid.
[1513. see BLATELY.]
1581. N. Burne, Disput., 96 b (Jam.). As the Italianis had bene sa blait, that thay culd nocht discerne betuix ane man and ane woman.
1811. Statist. Acc. Nairn & Moray (Jam.). Blate, easily deceived.
† 5. Blunt, in manner, curt. Obs.
1663. in Spalding, Troub. Chas. I. (1792), I. 143 (Jam.). They got a bleat answer, and so tint their travel.
6. Bashful, backward, esp. from natural diffidence or awkwardness; slow to come forward or assert oneself; diffident, sheepish, shamefaced.
c. 1600. Rob. Hood (Ritson), I. iii. 40. If they have supt e’er I come in, I will look wondrous blate.
1674. Ray, N. C. Wds., Coll., A toom purse makes a bleit Merchant. Scot. Prov.
1725. Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., I. i. Be nae blate, Push bauldly on and win the day.
1787. Burns, Ep. Mrs. Scott, 1. When I was beardless, young, and blate.
1808. Cumbr. Ballads, xxix. 67. I’ God’s neame step forret; nay, dunnet be bleate.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., II. xiv. You are not blate—you will never lose fair lady for faint heart.
1865. Cornh. Mag., March, 328. He’s ‘no blate,’ as they used to say in Scotland, and made himself quite at home to-night.
† 7. Of a fight, a market: Dull, slow. Obs.
1597–1605. Montgomerie, Poems (1821), 46. But ȝit his batill will be blate, Gif he our forss refuse.
1768. Ross, Helenore, 55 (Jam.). Gang hame again? Na, na, that were my hogs to a blate fair to ca’.
Hence Blately adv., Blateness.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, Prol. 251. The last sax buikis of Virgill … Caxtoun sa blaitlie lettis ourslip.
1823. Galt, Entail, III. iii. 41. It will be ill put-on blateness.
